5 messages you should say about your health

Patient
June 28, 2014

We tell ourselves many things about our health each day, every day, all day long. The vast majority are unintentional, uninspired and blunt. A particularly sinful dessert brings admonishment, “You should not have eaten that.” Panting after two flights of stairs call for an exasperated, “I am out of shape!” Receiving a diagnosis prompts mental overdrive of “What if I don’t survive this?” thoughts.

Learning my diagnosis of chronic kidney disease …

Read more…

5 messages you should say about your health

3 secrets my doctor doesn’t know

Patient
July 11, 2013

Dear Doctor,

I am a good patient. I’m organized, I know my health history and I’m particularly polite. I’ll thank you just for giving me bad news.

I look up to you. I do see myself as a partner in my care, but I depend on your expertise. I appreciate the years of schooling and sleepless residency nights that have trained you to know what might be causing my pain and how …

Read more…

3 secrets my doctor doesn’t know

Patients are the most important piece of the medical team

Patient
April 27, 2013

After reading Dr. Mona Kotech’s article titled “Is the era of patient centered care decidedly anti-physician?” I immediately thought of several instances when knowing my health history and current lab readings were vital for providing me with safe care.

I was born with VACTERL Association, a birth disorder that impacts a variety of systems in the body. I have had more than twelve surgeries and a variety of medical …

Read more…

Patients are the most important piece of the medical team